Magic President Jeff Weltman Happy With 'Great' Draft
ORLANDO - The Orlando Magic may have shaken some heads by taking two guards early in Thursday's NBA Draft.
The Magic already has a host of guards on the roster, including Markelle Fultz, Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs, but added to the backcourt with No. 6 pick Anthony Black from Arkansas and No. 11 selection Jett Howard from Michigan.
Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman believes the team fulfilled the goal it set out for itself on draft night.
"We set out this draft to further add talent, character, basketball IQ, positional size, and I always say, the fit and the fight," Weltman said. "And you're looking at two high character, really smart, highly skilled fighters. And that's what wins."
Weltman also reiterated the idea of drafting "the person, not the player," and both Black and Howard fit the culture that the team is trying to build.
Black is known for his defensive abilities more than anything in his game, which will help the Magic fortify one of the toughest backcourts on that end of the floor next to Fultz and Suggs.
Howard fits more of an immediate need on the floor with his three-point shooting, and there's likely more of an open lane for him to shine sooner.
That being said, both of them will have to earn their minutes against their backcourt-mates, all of whom have something to prove.
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